Hardik Pandya: Focus is to play Indian T20 Cricket and make sure India wins World Cup

Hardik Pandya, who was at the center of the Koffee with Karan controversy, says he is pleased to get back on the ground and do what he does best.

Hardik Pandya, who was at the center of the Koffee with Karan controversy, says he is pleased to get back on the ground and do what he does best. On Wednesday, Pandya came up with a match-defining all-round effort, blasting an unbeaten 25 from 8 and then claiming 3 for 20 at the Wankhede Stadium as Mumbai handed the Chennai their first defeat in Indian T20 Cricket 2019.

Speaking after winning the man of the match, Pandya said, "It feels pretty good to help the team to win and contribute. It's been seven months that I've hardly played games, I've just batted and batted. I want to improve my game every day. It's a fantastic feeling batting like that and making your team win."

On the tough times he has faced over the last few months, he recalled, "I was out for injury and then some other controversy happened. I want to dedicate this Man of the Match to my family and friends, who stood with me in the toughest times. Now my only focus is to play Indian T20 Cricket and make sure India wins the World Cup."

Batting first, Mumbai put up 170 on the board thanks to Suryakumar Yadav's fifty and Krunal Pandya's 42 apart from the cameos. They then held Chennai to 130 as Hardik and Lasith Malinga claimed three wickets each. Kedar Jadhav's half-century was the lone bright spot for Chennai.